Children of female persons deprived of liberty (PDL) at the Lapu-Lapu City Jail Female Dormitory received early Christmas gifts from GMA Kapuso Foundation.

Ten female PDLs were swamped with emotions at the opportunity to have their children visit them at the facility.

They were overwhelmed by the chance to be with their children personally, to wrap their arms around them, to rain kisses on them, especially the young ones, to at least compensate for lost time on the hours spared in the name of charity.

Alias “Inday” has not seen her 10-year-old child for about four years already since she was imprisoned for illegal drugs trade.

The girl also expressed gladness at being with her mother. The child hugged her mother repeatedly.

“Malipayon kaayo ko,” alias “Inday” said as her eyes welled with tears.

When her daughter was asked as to how she felt at being with her mom again, the child answered “happy kaayo (very happy).”

Another PDL-mom is grateful at the opportunity to be with his nine-year-old child despite the short span of time. None would ever be strong for such a moment, so alias “Princess” went emotional at the sight of her child waiting for her at the visitors area.

“Salamat kaayo nga natabangan mi,” alias “Princess” said.

The opportunity to have the PDL-moms visited by their children went possible through the “Give a Gift Alay sa Batang Pinoy Program” of the GMA Kapuso Foundation.

The children received early Christmas gifts as well.

According to JO2 Jackielou Castillo, chief of the Welfare and Development Section of pu-Lapu City Jail Female Dormitory, only children ages seven years old and above who have been Covid-19 vaccinated are allowed to visit their parents, per rules and regulations of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. However, because of the agency’s special partnership with GMA Kapuso Foundation, children who have not seen their parents for quite a long time have the chance to be with their parents.

According to Amabelle Rusiana, regional coordinator of GMA Kapuso Foundation, children of women-PDLs in various jail facilities in Metro Cebu are the identified beneficiaries of “Give a Gift Alay sa Batang Pinoy Program” of GMA Kapuso Foundation as Christmas is indeed for the children.